Mode setting arrangement for use in video tape recorder

ABSTRACT

A mode setting arrangement for use in a video tape recorder includes a cam arrangement defined by first and second cams provided integrally and mounted on an axle and a spiral guide groove formed in said cam arrangement with the center of the spiral being at the center of the axle. A first lever is provided operatively in association with the first cam for moving a pinch roller, a second lever is provided operatively in association with the second cam for effecting the transmital of driving force to a reel for winding manetic tape, and arm mechanisms are provided operatively in association with the spiral guide groove for effecting the extraction of magnetic tape from a cassette and extending the magnetic tape around a drum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a video tape recorder and, moreparticularly, to a mode setting arrangement for use in a video taperecorder of compact size.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art video tape recorder is essentially bulky in size andcomplicated, because various lever mechanisms for tape cassette loading,reel shifting and pinch roller movement and for the other functions mustbe complicatedly operated to cause the recorder to be set in a selectedmode of operation. Such a prior art tape recorder is diclosed, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,267 to Hayashi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,699to Ura et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,399 to Iijima et al.

However, in order to design and assemble an extremely compact size videotape recorder such as one capable of being installed in a video camera,an arrangement for setting a selected mode of operation must besimplified and made as compact as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed with a view to substantiallysolving the above described disadvantage and has for its essentialobject to eliminate such a complicated lever mechanism and other bulkyand complicated mechanisms such as a plunger for effecting the pressurecontact of pinch roller, and to provide a novel mode setting arrangementfor a compact video tape recorder.

In accomplishing these and other objects, a mode setting arrangementaccording to the present invention comprises a cam arrangement whichduring its rotation changes the position of various elements providedoperatively in association therewith to set up different mode ofoperations of the video tape recorder.

More particularly, a mode setting arrangement according to the presentinvention comprises: first lever means rotatably mounted on a pin, saidfirst lever means carrying the pinch roller; a first cam member mountedon a pin and provided operatively in association with said first levermeans for rotating said first lever means about said pin and, thuseffecting the movement of the pinch roller among three positions whichare, first pinch roller position in which the pinch roller is positionedinside the cassette mounted on a pair of reel bases, second pinch rollerposition in which the pinch roller is positioned closely adjacent to thecapstan with the magnetic tape located between said pinch roller andsaid capstan, and third pinch roller position in which the pinch rolleris held pressure contact with said capstan for tightly holding saidmagnetic tape between said pinch roller and said capstan; first armmechanism rotatably mounted on a cylinder; first tape loadingarrangement mounted on said first arm mechanism; second arm mechanismrotatably mounted on a cylinder; second tape loading arrangement mountedon said second arm mechanism; means movable relatively to the rotationof said first cam member, for providing a driving force through atransmitting means to each of said cylinders for effecting thesimultaneous movement of said first and second tape loading arrangementsbetween an initial position in which the first and second tape loadingarrangements are located inside the cassette, and a loaded position inwhich the first and second tape loading arrangements are locatedapproximately on opposite sides of the drum for extending the magnetictape around said drum; second lever means movably provided and having anengageable means and brake shoe member; engaging means adapted for theengagement with said engageable means, said engaging means carrying aforce transmission means for transmitting a driving force to one of saidpair of reel bases when said engageable means engages said engagingmeans, and for stop transmitting a driving force to none of said pair ofreel bases when said engageable means disengages from said engagingmeans; and a second cam member provided to move simultaneously with saidfirst cam member and mounted on said pin, said second cam memberprovided operatively in association with said second lever means formoving said second lever means between a brake position in which saidbrake shoe member is held in contact with said pair of reel bases andsaid engageable means engages said engaging means, and a releaseposition in which said brake shoe member is held apart from said pair ofreel bases and said engageable means disengages from said engagingmeans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in conjunction witha preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, throughout which like parts are designated by like referencenumerals, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the mode setting arrangement of FIG. 1 inplay/record mode;

FIG. 2a is a side view in an enlarged scale and viewed in a directionindicated by an arrow IIa in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is a side view in an enlarged scale and viewed in a directionindicated by an arrow IIb in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mode setting arrangement of FIG. 1 inplay/record mode with upper support plate being removed;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the mode setting arrangement of FIG. 1 instop mode;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line V--V shown in FIG.2a;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a relation between a camarrangement and its driving device;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the detail of cam arrangement and itsassociated parts;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing a relation between a sector shapedgear and a pair of arm mechanism to effect the extraction of magnetictape;

FIG. 9 is perspective view partly removed of a loading arrangementprovided at the end of each arm mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a tape end detecting device;

FIGS. 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d are diagrammatic views showing variouspositions of the cam arrangement to present stop mode, pause mode,play/record mode and fast-rewind and fast-forward mode, respectively, ofa video tape recorder; and

FIG. 12 is a time chart showing conditions of switches and motorsemployed in the mode setting arrangement of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, a mode setting arrangement according tothe present invention comprises upper and lower support plates 65 and 6parallelly provided to each other with a predetermined space. A camarrangement 1 is located in a middle compartment between the upper andlower support plates, and is provided for setting four different modesof operation of video tape recorder, which are stop mode, pause mode,play/record mode, and fast-forward/fast-rewind mode.

The cam arrangement 1, as best shown in FIG. 7 is defined by a gear 1arotatably mounted on an axle 7 extending from the lower support plate 6,a first cam 1b integrally and coaxially mounted on upper surface of thegear 1a facing the upper support plate 65, a second cam 1d furthermounted integrally on the first cam 1b, and a spiral guide groove 1cformed in the lower surface of the gear 1a. The first cam 1b has acircle configuration with one recess 1b' formed on its side. The secondcam 1d mounted on the first cam 1b has a circle configuration aboutthree quarters of 360° in angle and a projection part 1d-a in aremaining quarter. As best shown in FIG. 6, the projecting part 1d-a isdefined by a curved edge 1d-b, a slope edge 1d-c, and a summit edge 1d-dwhich is spaced furthest from the axle 7 of the second cam 1d. As bestshown in FIGS. 11a and 11b, the guide groove 1c is divided into threesections which are outer end section 1c-a, mid section 1c-b and innerend section 1c-c. Of the three sections, the mid section 1c-b extendsspirally about the axle 7 and connects between the outer and innergroove sections 1c-a and 1c-c, and the outer and inner groove sections1c-a and 1c-c extend with a constant radius about the axle 7.

Next, a mechanism for driving the cam arrangement 1 is explained.

Referring to FIG. 6, the gear 1a engages a gear 9 rigidly mounted on apin 8 which is rotatably mounted on the lower support plate 6. The pin 8extends through the lower support plate 6 downwardly to the oppositeside of plate 6 for rigidly receiving a bevel gear 10. The bevel gear 10engages another bevel gear 12a which is coaxially provided with a gear12b. The gears 12a and 12b are integrally provided to define a geararrangement 12. The gear 12b engages a gear 14 which is rigidly mountedon a driving shaft of a loading motor 13. The loading motor 13 is of atype that can rotate in both directions and is operated by a signalobtained from a microcomputer (not shown) which receives signals fromoperation buttons (not shown) provided on a control panel (not shown) ofthe video tape recorder, and signals from micro-switches SW1, SW2, SW3,SW4 and SW5 which will be described in detail later. The loading motor13 is secured to a plate 11 that extends downwardly and perpendicularlyfrom the lower support plate 6.

By the above arrangement, the driving force from the loading motor 13 istransmitted to the cam arrangement 1.

Provided operatively in association with the first cam 1b of the camarrangement 1 is an idler control lever 2 (FIGS. 3 and 4) pivotallymounted on a pin P1. The idler control lever 2 has three arms 2a, 2b and2c, and is biased to rotate clockwise about the pin P1 by a spring 101.The first arm 2a controls the transmission of driving force and brakingeffect to reels of the cassette CA in manner which will be describedlater. The second arm 2b has a projection which is held in contact withthe first cam 1b. When the projection of the second arm 2b engages withthe recess 1b' formed in the first cam 1b, the lever 2 is rotatedclockwise to a position as shown in FIG. 4, and when the projection ofthe second arm 2b disengages from the recess 1b', the lever 2 is rotatedcounterclockwise to a position shown in FIG. 3.

The first arm 2a has a hook portion 2a' adapted for the engagement witha pin 100 provided on a pivotal plate 98. The pivotal plate 98 isrotatably mounted on a shaft 36 of a gear 103, and the pivotal plate 98is located between the gear 103 and a pulley 37 (FIG. 5) for effectingthe rotation of the plate 98. As shown in FIG. 5, the pulley 37 islinked with another pulley 35 by an endless belt 38. Said another pulley35 is fixedly mounted on a driving shaft of a reel motor 34 which iscapable of being rotated in both directions and also being rotated intwo different speeds. Referring again to FIG. 3, the pivotal plate 98 isprovided with a pin 99 on which an idler gear 102 (FIG. 1) is rotatablymounted. The idler gear 102 engages with the gear 103. Therefore, thedriving force of the reel motor 34 is transmitted through the pulley 35,belt 38, pulley 37 and gear 103 to the idler gear 102. The engagementbetween the gears 102 and 103 effect not only the transmission ofdriving force but also the pivotal movement of the plate 98 about theshaft 36 in a manner described below.

When the gear 103 rotates clockwise, during the hook portion 2a' beingin the disengaged position with respect to the pin 100, as shown in FIG.3, the pivotal plate 98 pivots clockwise until the idler gear 102 comesinto engagement with a gear 104a (FIG. 1) which is coaxially providedwith a take up reel base 104. Therefore, in this case, the driving forceof the reel motor 34 is transmitted to the take up reel base 104.

On the contrary, when the gear 103 rotates counterclockwise, during thehook portion 2a' being in the disengaged position with respect to thepin 100, the pivotal plate 98 pivots counterclockwise until the idlergear 102 comes into engagement with a gear gear 93a (FIG. 1) which iscoaxially provided with a supply reel base 93. Therefore, in this case,the driving force of the reel motor 34 is transmitted to the supply reelbase 93.

When the lever 2 is rotated clockwise by the engagement of theprojection of the first arm 2b into the recess 1b' of the first cam 1b,as shown in FIG. 4, the hook 2a' engages the pin 100 to prevent anypivotal movement of the plate 98. In this case, the idler gear 102 isforcibly held in a neutral position, i.e., between the gears 104a and93a.

The second arm 2a also has a projection 110 which engages with anelongated groove formed in a lever 107 (FIG. 1). One end of the lever107 is pivotally mounted on a pin 109 and the other end 106 thereof ispivotally connected to a lever 105. The lever 105 has a pair of slantedfaces 105a and 105b each serving as a brake shoe. When the lever 2 isrotated counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 3, the pin 110 moves upwardlyand, therefore, the lever 107 is rotated counterclockwise about the pin109. In this case, the lever 105 is raised upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1,resulting in a spaced relation between the slanted face 105a and thetake up reel base 104, and also between the slanted face 105b and thesupply reel base 93. Accordingly, the reel bases 104 and 93 are freefrom the braking effect.

On the contrary, when the lever 2 is rotated clockwise, as shown in FIG.4, the pin 110 moves downwardly and, therefore, the lever 107 is rotatedclockwise about the pin 109. In this case, the lever 105 is shifteddown, guided by a pin 108, until the slanted faces 105a and 105b comeinto contact with the reel bases 104 and 93, respectively. Accordingly,the reel bases 104 and 93 receive the braking effect.

The third arm 2c of the lever 2 is positioned between a pair ofmicro-switches SW3 and SW4. When the lever 2 is rotatedcounterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 3, the third arm 2c actuates themicro-switch SW4 for the indication that the lever 2 is tilted in theposition as shown in FIG. 3. Contrary, when the lever 2 is rotatedclockwise, as shown in FIG. 4, the third arm 2c actuates themicro-switch SW3 for the indication that the lever 2 is tilted in theposition as shown in FIG. 4.

Also provided operatively in association with the first cam 1b is an arm3 (FIG. 3) having one end 3a fixedly connected to the lower supportplate 6 and the other end 3b held in contact with the peripheral of thefirst cam 1b by the resiliency of the arm 3. A micro-switch SW2 isprovided adjacent the one end 3a of the arm 3 so as to actuate themicro-switch SW2 when the end 3a of the arm 3 engages the recess 1b' ofthe first cam 1b.

Provided operatively in association with the second cam 1d is a pinchroller control lever 4 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 7) rotatably mounted on a pin 76.Also rotatably mounted on the pin 76 is a pinch roller support lever 77having one end 77a rotatably receiving a pinch roller 79. The pinchroller 79 extends upwardly from the upper support plate 65 through anarcuate groove 82 (FIG. 1) formed in the upper support plate 65. Theother end of the pinch roller support lever 77 at a portion 77b ismounted with an expansion spring 78 which is further mounted at aportion 4b of the lever 4. The expansion spring 78 provides such a forceto the levers 4 and 77 as to separate the portions 4b and 77b. Theseparation, however, is restricted by an engagement between a pin 4aextending from the lever 4 and a recess 77c formed in the lever 77. Thepinch roller control lever 4 further has an arm 80 extending radiallyoutwardly from a side of the lever 4. A suitable biasing means (notshown) is mounted on the pin 76 for urging the lever 4, as well as thelever 7, counterclockwise about the pin 76 so as to hold the end of thelever 4 in contact with the peripheral of the second cam 1d.

When the pinch roller control lever 4 is held in contact with a circularportion of the second cam 1d, i.e., a portion other than the projectingpart 1d-a, the lever 4 is rotated counterclockwise to a position asshown in FIG. 4. In this position, the lever 77 is so rotated about thepin 76 as to position the pinch roller 79 adjacent the axle 7. When thelever 4 slides over the curved edge 1d-b of the second cam 1d during thecounterclockwise rotation of the cam arrangement 1, the lever 4 quicklyrotates clockwise. Then, when the lever 4 slides over the slope edge1d-c during the further counterclockwise rotation of the cam arrangement1, the lever 4 is gradually rotated clockwise to further rotate thelever 77 clockwise. When the lever 4 is located about the mid of theslope edge 1d-c, the pinch roller 79 is positioned closely adjacent, butin a spaced relation with, a capstan 41. And thereafter, before thelever 4 comes into contact with the summit edge 1d-d of the second cam1d, the lever 77 is so rotated as to make a contact between the pinchroller 79 and the capstan 41. When the lever 4 comes into contact withthe summit edge 1d-d, as shown in FIG. 3, the lever 4 is further rotatedclockwise to contract the expansion spring 78, resulting in a pressurecontact between the pinch roller 79 and the capstan 41. When thepressure contact between the pinch roller 79 and the capstan 41 isestablished, the arm 80 actuates a micro-switch SW1 for the indicationof such a pressure contact.

By the above arrangement, a predetermined pressure can be obtainedbetween the pinch roller 79 and the capstan 41. Furthermore, the pinchroller 79 can be shifted from the position shown in FIG. 4 to theposition shown in FIG. 3 with a quick motion without requiring muchtorque from the cam arrangement 1.

It is to be noted that the capstan 41 receives a driving force from amotor 39 through a pulley 40, an endless belt 43, and a fly wheel pulley42. A reference numeral 44 designates a rotary detector containing arotation detecting means supported under the fly wheel pulley 42 by sixcolumns 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 for detecting the rotation of the flywheel pulley 42.

It is also to be noted that the pinch roller 79 returns from theposition shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 in a similarmanner described above during the clockwise rotation of the camarrangement 1.

Provided operatively in association with the guide groove 1c is a pin 5(FIG. 7) extending perpendicularly from a sector shaped gear 15 engagingwith a gear 18a. The sector shaped gear 15 is pivotally mounted on a pin16 extending from the lower support plate 6. The sector shaped gear 15has an arcuate groove 15a in which the axle 7 extends so as to allow thepivotal movement of the sector shaped gear 15 about the pin 16 between afirst position in which a portion 15b of the sector shaped gear engageswith the gear 18a and a second position in which a portion 15c engageswith the gear 18a. First, the relation between the guide groove 1c andthe sector shaped gear 15 is explained.

When the pin 5 is located anywhere in the inner end section 1c-c of theguide groove 1c (FIGS. 11a or 11d), the sector shaped gear 15 is held inthe first position mentioned above. When the cam arrangement 1 rotatescounterclockwise, the pin 5 slide along a mid section 1c-b of the guidegroove 1c. During such a counterclockwise rotation of the camarrangement 1, the pin 5 is pushed in a radial direction from the axle7, resulting in a counterclockwise rotation of the sector shaped gear15. When the cam arrangement 1 is so rotated to locate the pin 5anywhere in the outer end section 1c-a. (FIGS. 11b or 11c), the sectorshaped gear 15 is held in the second position mentioned above.

The gear 18a (FIGS. 7 or 8) is fixedly connected to a gear 18b. Thesegears 18a and 18b are integrally provided to each other to define a geararrangement 18 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 17. The gear 18bengages with a gear 19 which is fixedly connected to a cylinder 22. Thegear 19 and the cylinder 22 are rotatably mounted on a hollowcylindrical shaft 28. Fixedly mounted on the cylinder 22 is a first arm23a which is linked with a second arm 23b (FIG. 8) through a pivotaljoint 23c. The first and second arms 23a and 23b define a left armmechanism 23.

The gear 18b also engages a gear 20 rotatably mounted on a shaft 27. Thegear 20 further engages a gear 21 which is fixedly connected to acylinder 24. The gear 21 and the cylinder 24 are rotatably mounted on ashaft 26. Fixedly mounted on the cylinder 24 is a first arm 25a which islinked with a second arm 25b through a pivotal joint 25c. The first andsecond arms 25a and 25b define a right arm mechanism 25.

At the end of each of the left and right arm mechanisms 23 and 25, atape loading arrangement for loading a tape around a drum 117 (FIG. 1)is provided. In the drawings, a tape loading arrangement provided on theleft arm mechanism 23 is designated by a reference numeral 52, and thaton the right arm mechanism 25 is designated by a reference numeral 51.Before describing the detail of the tape loading arrangement, a variousarrangements provided around the drum 117 is explained below.

Referring to FIG. 1, the drum 117 is provided on its opposite sides witha pair of heads (not shown) for recording and reproducing video signal.The drum 117 is provided in an opening formed in the upper support plate65 such that its axis is tilted, as shown in FIG. 2b, about 10 degreeswith respect to a line extending perpendicularly from the upper supportplate 65. Accordingly, as the drum 117 rotates the heads diagonallyintersects the tape that runs around the drum 117. Formed in the uppersupport plate 65 on opposite sides of the drum 117 are a pair ofelongated grooves 66 and 67 for guiding the tape loading arrangements 51and 52, respectively.

When viewed in FIG. 1, the groove 66 extends from a portion closelyadjacent the take up reel base 104 through a narrow space between thedrum 117 and a fixed magnetic head 118, for recording and reproducingaudio signal and control signal, to the upper end of the support plate65. Provided at the upper end of the elongated groove 66 is a V-shapedblock 70 serving as a stopper for stopping the tape loading arrangement51 to a loaded position described later. Also, a block 72 is providedadjacent the V-shaped block 70 for locating the tape loading arrangementin the proper angled relation with the drum 117. Provided adjacent thelower end and on the left side of the elongated groove 66 is a wallplate 74 for holding the tape loading arrangement 51 in its initialposition described later.

Similarly, the groove 67 extends from a portion closely adjacent thesupply reel base 93 through a narrow space between the drum 117 and aneraser magnetic head 116, for erasing the tape, to the upper end of thesupport plate 65. At the upper end of the groove 67, V-shaped block 71and another block 73 are provided for stopping and positioning the tapeloading arrangement 52 in a loaded position. And, at a portion adjacentthe lower end of the elongated groove 67, a block 75 is provided forholding the tape loading arrangement 52 in its initial position.

Provided under the upper support plate 65 along the elongated groove 66is an elongated guide wall 68 (FIG. 3). Likewise, an elongated guidewall 69 is provided under the upper support plate 65 along the elongatedgroove 67.

Next, the tape loading arrangements 51 and 52 are described. Since thetape loading arrangements 51 and 52 have a similar structure to eachother, the tape loading arrangement 51 is described in detail below.

Referring to FIG. 9, the tape loading arrangement 51 comprises a shaft53 rotatably mounted at the free end portion of the second arm 25b. Anelongated slide block 57 having a groove 57a therearound is alsorotatably mounted on an intermediate portion of the shaft 53. The slideblock 57 slides along the elongated groove 66 so that elongated slideblock 57 is held in alignment with the direction to which the elongatedgroove 66 extends. At a lower end portion of the shaft 53, an elongatedguide block 58 is mounted such that one end portion of the elongatedguide block 58 is fixedly connected to the shaft 53 and the other endthereof extends perpendicularly from the shaft 53. And, at a upper endportion of the shaft 53, another elongated block 56 is mounted such thatapproximately the center portion of the elongated block 56 is fixedlyconnected to the shaft 53 and opposite ends of the elongated block 56extends perpendicularly from the shaft 53 in opposite directions. Oneend of the block 56 is mounted with a tape guide post 54 having its axle54a extending parallelly to the shaft 53. The other end of the block 56is mounted with a roller 55 having its axis extending in a slantedrelation by 12 degrees to the axle 54a such that the free end of theroller 55 is located further away from the axle 54a than its connectedend. When viewed from the bottom of the shaft 53, the elongated block 58extends in the same direction as the direction to which one end of theblock 56 mounted with the tape guide roller 54 extends. A spring 59 ismounted on the shaft 53 with one end connected to the block 58 and theother end connected to the slider 57 for urging the blocks 56 and 58clockwise about the shaft 53 with respect to a slider 57 which is heldin a predetermined direction as it slides along an elongated groove 66.

During the movement of the tape loading arrangement 51 along the groove66 by the right arm mechanism 25 in a manner described later, the block58, particularly its face 58a (FIG. 9), abuts against the guide wall 68to turn the elongated block 58 in alignment with the direction to whichthe guide wall 68 extends. Accordingly, the block 56, which is rigidlyconnected to the block 58 through the shaft 53, is also aligned with thedirection to which the guide wall 68 extends.

The tape loading arrangement 52 for the left arm mechanism 23 has astructure similar to the tape loading arrangement 51. The difference isonly in the direction to which the post slants, and in the biasingdirection of the spring. More particularly, in the tape loadingarrangement 52, a post 63, which corresponds to the roller 55 of theright tape loading arrangement 51, has its axis slanted by 12 degreeswith respect to the axle of a roller 62 such that the free end of thepost 63 is located closer to the roller 62 than its connected end. And,a spring, corresponding to the spring 59 of the right tape loadingarrangement, is mounted for urging the blocks (only the block 64 isshown) counterclockwise about the shaft 60 with respect to a slider 61which is held in a predetermined direction as it slides along anelongated groove 67.

Next, the movement of the tape loading arrangements 51 and 52 withrespect to the rotation of the cam arrangement 1 is described.

Initially, the tape loading arrangements 51 and 52 are located in theinitial position as shown in FIG. 4 for allowing the positioning of acassette in the video tape recorder in a position indicated by a chainline CA. In this position, the magnetic tape MT extends adjacent theguide roller and post in each of the tape loading arrangement 51 and 52.When the tape loading arrangements 51 and 52 are located in the initialposition, the pin 5 on the sector shaped gear 15 is engaged in the innerend section 1c-c of the guide groove 1c and, accordingly, the sectorshaped gear 15 is in such a position as to engage its gear portion 15bwith the gear 18a. In this case, the gears 19 and 21 are in the positionto direct the respective arms 23a and 25a downwardly, as shown in FIG.4, resulting in two fold of the arms 23a and 23b, and of the arms 25aand 25b. Accordingly, the tape loading arrangements 51 and 52 aremaintained in their initial position. A micro-switch SW5 is provided onthe lower support plate 6 adjacent the cylinder 22 for being switched onwhen the arms 23a and 23b are folded in two. Accordingly, themicro-switch SW5 produces a signal indicating the initial position ofthe tape loading arrangements 51 and 52.

When the tape loading arrangement 51 is in the initial position, theblock 56 is held in contact with the wall plate 74, as indicated by achain line 56' in FIG. 1, by the spring 59 mounted on the shaft 53. Anarrow shown by a chain line 56' indicates the direction of urging forceby the spring 59. Similarly, when the tape loading arrangement 52 is inthe initial position, the elongated block 64 is held in a placeindicated by a chain line 64' with a pressure contact between the block64 and the block 75 as indicated by an arrow.

Then, when the cam arrangement 1 is rotated counterclockwise, the pin 5engages in the mid section 1c-b of the guide groove 1c and, accordingly,the pin 5 is shifted away from the axle 7, resulting in counterclockwiserotation of the sector shaped gear 15 about the pin 16. When the sectorshaped gear 15 rotates counterclockwise, the gear 21 is rotatedclockwise, and the gear 19 is rotated counterclockwise.

Accordingly, the arm 25a, which has been directing downwardly, starts torotate clockwise about the shaft 26 to direct upwardly, and, at the sametime, the arm 23a starts to rotate counterclockwise about the shaft 28to direct upwardly, as shown in FIG. 8. The description hereinbelow isdirected particularly to the right arm mechanism 25. During theclockwise rotation of the arm 25a, the other arm 25b stretches straightforward and, accordingly, the tape loading arrangement 51 slides alongthe groove 66 upwardly. More particularly, at the beginning of thestretch, the elongated block 56 disengages from the wall plate 74against the spring 59. When the elongated block 56 is about to disengagefrom the wall plate 74, the elongated block 56 aligns with the groove 66and, accordingly, the elongated block 58 (Its position is shown by achain line 58' in FIG. 1.) also aligns with the groove 66 such that itsfree end directs towards V-block 70. By the disengagement of the block56, the guide roller 54 pulls out the magnetic tape MT from the cassetteCA.

When the elongated block 56 disengages from the wall plate 74, thebiasing force of the spring exerts on blocks 56 and 58 to rotateclockwise. However, because of the contact between the block 58 and theelongated guide wall 68, the blocks 56 and 58 are both maintained inalignment with the groove 66. Therefore, during the movement of the tapeloading arrangement 51 along the intermediate portion of the groove 66,the elongated block 56 is maintained in alignment with the groove 66. Inthis manner, it is possible to move the elongated block 56 through thenarrow space between the drum 117 and the fixed magnetic head 118.

Then, before the pin 5 reaches the outer section 1c-a, that is, beforethe sector shaped gear 15 is rotated counterclockwise to engage the gearportion 15c with the gear 18a, the tape loading arrangement 51 is somoved upwardly as to locate the guide block 58 past the guide wall 68,causing the blocks 56 and 58 to rotate clockwise by the spring 59.However, at this moment, since the elongated block 58 is placed in theV-shaped block 70, the blocks 56 and 58 rotate clockwise only for asmall degrees to terminate the block 58 in a loaded position as shown inFIG. 1. A precise adjustment of the degree of the elongated block 56 canbe effected by the block 72. At this moment, the arms 25a and 25b arestretched straight forward.

When the arms 25a and 25b are stretched straight forward, apredetermined pressure is applied between the elongated block 56 and theV-shaped block 70, because the length of the stretched arms 25a and 25bis made a little longer than the length necessary to advance the tapeloading arrangement to the loaded position, and, at least one of thearms 25a and 25b has some flexibility to produce a spring effect when itis bent in a shape of bow.

It is to be noted that the arms 25a and 25b are so bent as to avoid anycontact with the capstan 41.

It is also to be noted that the tape loading arrangement 52 provided onthe left arm mechanism 23 operates in a similar manner described aboverelatively to the rotation of the cam arrangement 1. Accordingly, whenthe tape loading arrangements 51 and 52 are shifted to the loadedposition, the magnetic tape MT extends around the drum 117, as indicatedby a chain line shown in FIG. 1. In order to provide a predeterminedtension to the extended magnetic tape MT, a tension lever 84 (FIG. 1)having a J-shape configuration is provided. A detail of the tensionlever 84 and its associated parts is described below.

One end of the tension lever 84 is provided with a guide pin 83 and theother end thereof is fixedly connected to a shaft 85 which coaxially androtatably extends through the hollow cylindrical shaft 28. The shaft 85is also fixedly mounted with a pulley 87 (FIG. 5) on which a string 86is wound. The string 86 is connected to a spring 88 so as to urge thepulley 87 counterclockwise and, thus urging the tension lever 84counterclockwise about the shaft 85. A groove having a half-circleconfiguration about the shaft 85 is formed in the upper support plate 65so as to allow a contact between a pin 97 extending from the arm 23a anda lever 96. The tension lever 84 has a pin 90 fixedly mounted thereonand extending downwardly for the engagement with the lever 94. The lever94 carrying a brake plate 91 with a brake shoe 92, is rotatably mountedon a shaft 89. Also rotatably mounted on the shaft 89 is a plate 96which is biased in counterclockwise direction by a hair pin spring 95.On end of the plate 96 is provided with a tongue 96a for the engagementwith the plate 94. Therefore, the biasing force of the hair pin 95 istransmitted through the plate 96, tongue 96a to the plate 94, causingthe plate 94 to rotate counterclockwise.

When the arm mechanism 23 is folded in two to located the tape loadingarrangement 52 in its initial position, the pin 97 extending from thearm 23a is located at the upper end of half-circle groove. Therefore, bythe biasing force of the hair pin spring 95, the plate 94 rotatescounterclockwise to separate the brake shoe 92 away from the supply reelbase 93 and, at the same time, to push the pin 90 leftwardly, whenviewed in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the tension lever 84 rotates clockwiseagainst the biasing force of the spring 88 for placing the guide pin 83approximately at a position between chain line portions 64' and 58'.

When the arm mechanism 23 is so stretched as to locate the tape loadingarrangement 52 close to its loaded position, the pin 97 engages roundedend portion of the tension lever 84 to rotate the tension lever 84counterclockwise to the position as shown in FIG. 1, and, at the sametime, the pin 90 pushes the plate 94 clockwise about the shaft 89 tomake a contact between the brake shoe 92 and the supply reel base 93.Accordingly, the pulled out tape from the cassette extends with apredetermined tension.

The arrangement according to the present invention further includes adevice for detecting opposite ends of the magnetic tape. The tape enddetecting device comprises a pin 120 mounted adjacent the J-shapedtension lever 84. As shown in FIG. 10, the pin 120 has an elongatedopening 120a formed along its axis and another elongated opening 120balong a direction perpendicular to the axis. At the corner of the twoelongated openings 120a and 120b, a mirror 123 slanted 45 degrees withrespect to the axis is mounted to define an L-shaped optical paththrough the pin 120. A light emitting diode 122 mounted in a block 127is tightly held in position by a securing plate 121. When a cassette CAis placed in a proper position, the pin 120 is inserted into acylindrical hole formed in the cassette CA. A mirror 124 slanted 45degrees to the axis of the cylindrical hole is previously fittinglyprovided in the cylindrical hole of the cassette CA, to direct lightrays from the pin 120 in a direction parallel to the support plate 65.In the path of light rays from the mirror 124, a light receiving element126 is mounted in a block 128 which is tightly held in a cassette holder125 for receiving the cassette CA. Between the mirror 124 and the lightreceiving element 126, there is provided a conduit in the cassette,through which conduit the magnetic tape MT passes.

The magnetic tape consists of a magnetic tape portion and leading andtrailing tape portions at opposite ends of the magnetic tape portion.The magnetic tape portion is non-transparent and the leading andtrailing tape portions are transparent. Accordingly, when the magnetictape portion is present in the conduit, the light receiving element 126receives no light rays from the mirror 124. Contrary, when the leadingor trailing tape portion is present in the conduit, the light receivingelement 126 receives light and, thus, it produces a signal indicatingthe end of the magnetic tape.

A similar tape end detecting device is provided on the opposite side at129 and 130 (FIG. 1).

Next, the operation of the mode setting arrangement is described.

Initially, the video tape recorder is in the stop mode in which the camarrangement 1 is located in the position shown in FIG. 11a and,therefore, the various elements provided in association with the camarrangement 1 are located in the position shown in FIG. 4. Moreparticularly, the arm 2b of the idler control lever 2 is engaged in therecess 1b' of the cam 1b to hold the idler gear 102 in the neutralposition and, at the same time, to give a braking effect to the reelbases 93 and 104 by the lever 105. The pinch roller control lever 4 isso positioned as to locate the pinch roller 79 adjacent the axle 7. Thepin 5 extending from the sector shaped gear 15 is located adjacent theaxle 7 to terminate the sector shaped gear 15 in the first position and,accordingly, the tape loading arrangements 51 and 52 are located intheir initial position. And, the arm 3 is pushed upwardly by the cam 1b.Furthermore, the tension lever 84 is in such a position to locate theguide pin 83 between the pinch roller 79 and the post 63 when viewed inFIG. 4. In the stop mode, the cassette CA can be placed in a properposition in the video tape recorder as indicated by a chain line in FIG.4, or can be extracted from the video tape recorder.

In the stop mode, the switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4 and SW5 are held,respectively, off, off, on, off, and on, as indicated in the time tableof FIG. 12 at a moment T0.

It is to be noted that the signals produced from each of the switchesSW1 to SW4 and various operation buttons are fed to a microcomputer (notshown) for controlling the sequence operation of the video taperecorder.

Then, at a moment T1, when a record button (not shown) is pressed, theloading motor 13 is switched on to rotate in one direction and,accordingly, the cam arrangement 1 starts to rotate counterclockwise forabout 270 degrees until the cam arrangement 1 is set in the positionshown in FIG. 11b for setting the video tape recorder in the pause mode.The set up of the pause mode completes at a moment T2 shown in FIG. 12.

In the time interval between the moments T1 and T2, the followingsequence of operation is carried out.

First, the idler control lever 2 is so turned counterclockwise as torelease the idler gear 102 from the neutral position and to release thereel bases 93 and 104 from the braked condition. Then, by the rotationof the sector shaped gear 15 counterclockwise, the tape loadingarrangements 51 and 52 starts to move from the initial position, asshown in FIG. 4, towards the loaded position, as shown in FIG. 2 or 3.When the tape loading arrangements 51 and 52 are moved to about the endof the respective guide grooves 66 and 67, the pinch roller controllever 4 starts to rotate clockwise by the engagement of the lever 4 withthe curved edge 1d-b of the cam 1d and, accordingly, the pinch roller 79starts move from the position shown in FIG. 4 towards the capstan 41.Furthermore, by the rotation of the cylinder 22, the guide pin 83mounted on the tension lever 84 moves almost in the synchronized mannerwith the pinch roller 79. Before the pinch roller 79 makes a pressurecontact with the capstan 41, i.e., before the pinch roller control lever4 engages the slope edge 1d-c of the cam 1d, the end 3b of the arm 3engages the recess 1b' to turn the switch SW2 on to stop the loadingmotor 13. In addition to stop the loading motor 13, the signal producedfrom the switch SW2 at the moment T2 is used to start the motor (notshown) for driving the drum 117, the motor 39 for driving the capstan 41and the motor 34 for driving the idler gear 102. Here, since the motor34 is driven clockwise, the idler gear 102 tilts clockwise about theshaft 36 of the gear 103 to transmit the driving force from the motor 34to the gear 104a.

As apparent from the foregoings, in the pause mode, loading arrangements51 and 52 are located in the loaded position with a predeterminedpressure applied against the respective V-shaped blocks 70 and 71, thepinch roller 79 is located closely adjacent the capstan with apredetermined space between the pinch roller 79 and the capstan 41, andthe guide pin 83 is located in the position shown in FIG. 2. In thepause mode, the magnetic tape extracted from the cassette extends aroundthe rotating drum 117, ready for recording.

Then, at a moment T3, when a start button (not shown) is depressed, theloading motor 13 again rotates in said one direction to further rotatethe cam arrangement 1 counterclockwise until the cam arrangement 1 isset in the position shown in FIG. 11c for setting the video taperecorder in the record/play mode (in this case record mode). The set upof the record mode completes at a moment T4 shown in FIG. 12.

In the time interval between the moments T3 and T4, the followingsequence of operation is carried out.

By the further rotation of the loading motor 13 in said one direction,the pinch roller 4 further rotates clockwise, as it slides along theslope edge 1d-c of the cam 1d. Such a further clockwise rotation of thepinch roller control lever 4 accomplishes the pressure contact betweenthe pinch roller 79 and the capstan 4. At the moment T4, the lever 4contacts the summit edge 1d-d of the cam 1d for holding the pinch roller79 in the pressure contact position and, at the same time, the arm 80turns the switch SW1 on for stopping the loading motor 13. Accordingly,the magnetic tape held between the pinch roller 79 and the capstan 41 isadvanced with a predetermined speed to carry out the recording. Therecording continues until the start button is released.

Then, at a moment T5, when the start button is released, the loadingmotor 13 is actuated to rotate in a direction opposite to said onedirection. Accordingly, the cam arrangement 1 starts to rotate clockwiseuntil the cam arrangement 1 returns to the position shown in FIG. 11bfor setting the video tape recorder again in the pause position. Whenthe cam arrangement 1 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 11b, ata moment T6, the arm 3 turns the switch SW2 to stop the loading motor 13and, thus, the video tape recorder is maintained in the pause mode.

Thereafter, at a moment T7, when the start button is again depressed,the cam arrangement 1 changes its position from that shown in FIG. 11bto that shown in FIG. 11c and, accordingly, at a moment T8, recordingmode is set up again in the same manner described above, thereby furthercarrying out the recording.

Then, at a moment T9, when the magnetic tape portion ends and thetrailing tape portion appears in the tape end detecting device, the tapeend detecting device produces a signal indicating the tape end.Accordingly, the cam arrangement 1 rotates clockwise from the positionshown in FIG. 11c to the initial position shown in FIG. 11a for settingthe video tape recorder in the stop mode at a moment T10. Therefore, thepinch roller 79 and the loading arrangements 51 and 52 are again locatedin the position shown in FIG. 4.

It is to be noted that the return from the record mode to the stop modecan be carried out manually by the step of releasing the record buttonand, thereafter depressing a stop button (not shown).

Next, at a moment T11, when a fast-rewind button (not shown) isdepressed, the loading motor 13 starts to rotate in said oppositedirection to rotate the cam arrangement 1 from the position shown inFIG. 11a to the position shown in FIG. 11d. When the cam arrangement 1is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 11d, at a moment T12, the idlercontrol lever 2 is rotated counterclockwise, but the pinch roller 79 andthe loading arrangements 51 and 52 are maintained still. Accordingly, bythe turning of the switch SW4 and no turning of the switch SW5, themotor 34 rotates in high speed to effect the fast-rewind of the magnetictape. The fast rewind can be stopped manually or by the detection ofleading tape portion by the tape end detecting device. When a signal forstopping the fast rewind is produced, the cam arrangement 1 returns fromthe position shown in FIG. 11d to the position shown in FIG. 11a, in atime interval between moments T13 and T14.

Next, when it is required to play the video tape recorder, a play button(not shown) is depressed. In this case, the cam arrangement 1 rotatescounterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 11a to the positionshown in FIG. 11c without any stop. Accordingly, the pinch roller 79 isshifted at once to the position for effecting the pressure contact withthe capstan 41.

According to the present invention, since the cam arrangement 1 drivenby the loading motor 13 can set various modes of operations, it is notnecessary to employ a solenoid device, which is according to the priorart provided for effecting the pressure contact of pinch roller againstthe capstan. Furthermore, it is not necessary to employ many complicatedlever arrangements. Accordingly, a video tape recorder employing themode setting arrangement of the present invention can be assembled in acompact size capable of being accommodated in a video camera.

Although the present invention has been fully described with referenceto several preferred embodiments, many modifications and variationsthereof will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the scopeof the present invention is therefore to be limited not by the detailsof the preferred embodiments described above, but only by the terms ofappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a video tape recorder having means forreceiving a cassette having a pair of reels and magnetic tape woundthereon for feed from one of said reels to the other of said reels, assaid reels are rotated in forward and reverse directions, means,including reel bases, a capstan and a pinch roller, in said recorder forrotating said reels and advancing said magnetic tape at a predeterminedspeed during the recording and the playback of the recording on saidmagnetic tape and for advancing said magnetic tape at a higher speedwhen said magnetic tape is being wound from one reel to the other reelwithout recording and playback, a mode setting means in said recordercomprising:first cam means; a loading motor having means for positioningsaid first cam means; means for braking said reel bases and said reelsthereon and preventing said magnetic tape from being advanced when saidloading motor and said positioning means thereon has positioned saidfirst cam means in a first position; means for releasing said brakingand tape advance preventing means when said loading motor and saidpositioning means thereon has positioned said first cam means in asecond position, and for rotating said pair of reel bases for advancingsaid tape at said higher speed; means for holding said pinch rolleragainst said capstan with the application of pressure, and with saidmagnetic tape passing over said pinch roller when said loading motor andsaid positioning means thereon has positioned said first cam means in athird position; a pivotally mounted lever means for supporting saidpinch roller; a second cam means for pivoting said lever means; andmeans interconnecting said first cam means and said second cam means forpivoting said lever means to a first position for positioning said pinchroller inside said cassette with said magnetic tape passing thereoverwhen said loading motor has positioned said first cam means in saidfirst position and said reel bases and said reels are braked and forpivoting said lever means to a second position for positioning saidpinch roller with said magnetic tape passing thereover against saidcapstan when said loading motor has positioned said first cam means insaid third position.
 2. In a video tape recorder, as recited in claim 1,wherein said lever means is held in said first position when saidloading motor has positioned said first cam means in said secondposition.
 3. In a video tape recorder having means for receiving acassette having a pair of reels and magnetic tape wound thereon for feedfrom one of said reels to the other of said reels, as said reels arerotated in forward and reverse directions, a pair of reel bases in saidrecorder for receiving said reels, a drum carrying magnetic head meansfor recording and playing back video signals recorded on said magnetictape, a pinch roller and a capstan for engaging said magnetic tapetherebetween, said magnetic tape being advanced by the driving force ofsaid capstan, and mode setting means for setting said video taperecorder in one of four modes of operations, which are:a stop mode inwhich said video tape recorder is in a condition ready for receiving acassette; a pause mode in which magnetic tape extracted from saidcassette extends around said drum and said magnetic tape is in stoppedcondition; a recording or playback mode in which said magnetic tape isbeing advanced from one of said reels to the other said reels and aroundsaid drum at a predetermined speed; and a fast-rewind or fast-forwardmode in which said magnetic tape is being advanced along a predeterminedtape path offset from said drum from one of said reels to the other ofsaid reels in a predetermined high speed in one of two directions, theimprovement wherein said mode setting arrangement comprises: first levermeans rotatably mounted on a first lever pin, said first lever meanscarrying said pinch roller; a first cam member mounted on a first campin for rotating said first lever means about said first lever pin forpositioning said pinch roller in a first position inside said cassettemounted on said pair of reel bases, in a second position in which saidpinch roller is positioned closely adjacent to said capstan with saidmagnetic tape between said pinch roller and said capstan, and in a thirdposition in which said pinch roller is held in pressure contact withsaid capstan for tightly engaging said magnetic tape between said pinchroller and said capstan; first arm mechanism rotatably mounded on acylinder; first tape loading means mounted on said first arm mechanism;second arm mechanism rotatably mounted on a second cylinder; second tapeloading means mounted on said second arm mechanism; means movablerelatively to the rotation of said first cam member for providing adriving force through transmitting means to each of said cylinders forsimultaneous moving said first and second tape loading means between aninitial position in which the first and second tape loading means arelocated inside the cassette, and a loaded position in which the firstand second tape loading means are located approximately on oppositesides of said drum for extending said magnetic tape around said drum;second lever means having an engagable means and brake shoe members;engaging means for engagement with said engagable means, said engagingmeans having a force transmission means for transmitting a driving forceto one of said pair of reel bases when said engagable means engages saidengaging means and for stopping transmitting a driving force to saidpair of reel bases when said engagable means disengages said engagingmeans; and a second cam member for movement simultaneously with saidfirst cam member and mounted on said first cam pin, said second cammember being operatively in association with said second lever means formoving said second lever means between a brake position in which saidbrake shoe members are held in contact with said pair of reel bases andsaid engagable means engages said engaging means and a release positionin which said brake shoe members are held apart from said pair of reelbases and said engagable means disengages said engaging means, wherebywhen said first cam member is so rotated as to locate said first levermeans to said first pinch roller position and said movable means ismoved to locate the tape loading means to the initial position, and whensaid second cam member is so rotated as to locate the second lever meansto said brake position, said stop mode is established, when said firstcam member is so rotated as to locate the first lever means to saidsecond pinch roller position and said movable means is so moved as tolocate the tape loading means to the loaded position, and when saidsecond cam member is so rotated as to locate the second lever means tosaid release position, said pause mode is established, when said firstcam member is so rotated as to locate the first lever means to saidthird pinch roller position and said movable means is so moved as tolocate the tape loading neans to the loaded position, and when saidsecond cam member is so rotated as to locate the second lever means tosaid release position, said record or playback mode is established, andwhen said first cam member is so rotated as to locate the first levermeans to said first pinch roller position and said movable means is sonoved as to locate the tape loading means to the initial position, andwhen said second cam member is so rotated as to locate the second levermeans to said release position, said fast-rewind or fast-forward mode isestablished.
 4. In a video tape recorder having means for receiving acassette having a pair of reels and magnetic tape, a pair of reel basesin said recorder for receiving said reels; a drum carrying magnetic headmeans for recording and playing back video signals, a pinch roller and acapstan for holding said magnetic tape therebetween, said magnetic tapebeing capable of being advanced by the driving force received from saidcapstan, and mode setting means for setting the video tape recorder inone of four modes of operations, which are:a stop mode in which saidvideo tape recorder is in a condition ready for receiving a cassette; apause mode in which said magnetic tape extracted from said cassetteextends around said drum with said magnetic tape in stopped condition; arecording and playback mode in which said magnetic tape extracted fromsaid cassette extends around said drum with said magnetic tape and isadvanced at a predetermined speed; and a fast-rewind or fast-forwardmode in which said magnetic tape runs along a predetermined tape pathoffset from said drum in a predetermined high speed in the reverse or inthe forward direction,an improvement wherein said mode setting meanscomprises: first lever means rotatably mounted on a first lever pin,said first lever means carrying said pinch roller; a first cam membermounted on a first cam pin for rotating said first lever means aboutsaid first lever pin for positioning said pinch roller in a firstpositioned inside said cassette mounted in said pair of reel bases, in asecond position in which said pinch roller is positioned closelyadjacent to said capstan located between said pinch roller and saidcapstan, and in a third position in which said pinch roller is held inpressure contact with said capstan for tightly engaging said magnetictape between said pinch roller and said capstan; whereby when said firstcam member is rotated to locate said first lever means in said firstpinch roller position, said stop mode is established, when said firstcam member is rotated to locate said first lever means in said secondpinch roller position, said pause mode is established, when said firstcam member is rotated to locate said first lever means in said thirdpinch roller position, said record or playback mode is established, andwhen said first cam member is rotated to locate said first lever meansin said first pinch roller position, said fast-rewind or fast-forwardmode is established.
 5. A mode setting arrangement as claimed in claim4, wherein said first lever means comprises a short lever and anelongated lever rotatably mounted on said first lever pin, said shortlever being held in contact with said first cam member and saidelongated lever carrying said pinch roller, a spring means is providedbetween said short and elongated levers for providing a predeterminedpressure between said pinch roller and said capstan when said firstlever means is rotated to locate said pinch roller in said third pinchroller position.
 6. In a video tape recorder having means for receivinga cassette having a pair of reels and magnetic tape, a pair of reelbases for receiving said reels, a drum carrying magnetic head means forrecording and playing back video signals, a pinch roller and capstan forengaging said magnetic tape therebetween, said magnetic tape beingadvanced by the driving force received from said capstan, and a modesetting means for setting the video tape recorder in one of four modesof operations, which are:a stop mode in which said video tape recorderis in a condition for receiving a cassette; a pause mode in which saidmagnetic tape extracted from said cassette extends around said drum withsaid magnetic tape in stopped condition; a record or play mode in whichsaid magnetic tape extracted from said cassette extends around said drumwith said magnetic tape being advanced at a predetermined speed; and afast-rewind or fast-forward mode in which said magnetic tape runs alonga predetermined tape path offset from said drum in a predetermined highspeed in one of two directions,an improvement wherein said mode settingmeans comprises: a first arm mechanism rotatably mounted on a firstcylinder; a first tape loading means mounted on said first armmechanism; a second arm mechanism rotatably mounted on a secondcylinder; a second tape loading means mounted on said second armmechanism; means for driving each of said first and said secondcylinders for effecting the simultaneous movement of said first andsecond tape loading means between an initial position in which the firstand second tape loading means and said pinch roller are located insidethe cassette, and a loaded position in which said first and second tapeloading means are located approximately on opposite sides of said drumand said pinch roller with said magnetic tape thereover is against saidcapstan, said magnetic tape being extended around said drum; wherebywhen said driving means is moved to locate said first and said secondtape loading means in the initial position, said stop mode isestablished, when said driving means is moved to locate said first andsaid second tape loading means in the loaded position, said pause modeis established, when said driving means is moved to locate said firstand said second tape loading means in the loaded position, said recordor play mode is established, and when said driving means is moved tolocate said first and said second tape loading means in the initialposition, said fast-rewind or fast-forward mode is established.
 7. Amode setting arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of saidfirst and said second arm means comprises two sub-arms respectivelyinterconnected by joints.
 8. A mode setting arrangement as claimed inclaim 6, wherein each of said first and said second tape loading means,respectively, comprises:a shaft rotatably mounted on said arm mechanism;an elongated guide block rotatably mounted on said shaft and movablealong a guide; an elongated support block fixedly mounted on said shaftfor supporting a pin member on which said magnetic tape is hooked; anelongated guide block fixedly mounted on said shaft; and means forguiding said elongated guide block in alignment with said guide duringsaid loading means movement along said guide, thereby aligning saidelongated support block with said guide.
 9. In a video tape recorderhaving means for receiving a cassette having a pair of tape reels andmagnetic tape, a pair of reel bases for receiving said pair of reels, adrum carrying magnetic head means for recording and playing back videosignals, a pinch roller and capstan for engaging said magnetic tapetherebetween, said magnetic tape being capable of being advanced by thedriving force received from said capstan, and a mode setting means forsetting said video tape recorder in one of four modes of operations,which are:a stop mode in which said video tape recorder is in acondition ready for receiving said cassette; a pause mode in which saidmagnetic tape extracted from said cassette extends around said drum withsaid magnetic tape in stopped condition; a record or play back mode inwhich said magnetic tape extracted from said cassette extends aroundsaid drum with said magnetic tape advancing at a predetermined speed;and a fast-rewind or fast-forward mode in which said magnetic tape runsalong a predetermined tape path offset from said drum at a predeterminedhigh speed in one of two directions, an improvement wherein said modesetting means comprises; lever means having an engagable means and brakeshoe members; engaging means for engagement with said engagable means,said engaging means carrying a force transmission means for transmittinga driving force to one of said pair of reel bases when said engagablemeans disengages said engaging means; and a first cam member mounted ona first cam pin for moving said lever means between a brake position inwhich said brake shoe members are held in contact with said pair of reelbases and said engagable means engages said engaging means, and arelease position in which said brake shoe members are held apart fromsaid pair of reel bases and said engagable means disengages from saidengaging means, whereby when said first cam member is rotated to movesaid lever means to said brake position, said stop mode is established,when said first cam member is rotated to move said lever means to saidrelease position, said pause mode is established, when said first cammember is rotated to move said lever means to said release position,said fast-rewind or fast-forward mode is established.
 10. A mode settingarrangement as claimed in claim 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, furthercomprises means for detecting leading and trailing end portions of saidmagnetic tape.
 11. A mode setting arrangement as claimed in claim 10,wherein said detecting means comprises an optical path which interceptsa path of magnetic tape, means provided at one end of said optical pathfor emitting light rays, and means provided at other end of said opticalpath for receiving light rays.